My thoughts on the Phillies season.

The Phils increased their winning streak to six games as they beat the BoSox, 6-4.

The Phils increased their winning streak to six games as they outlast the Red Sox, 6-4.

The Phils took a quick 2-0 lead as, with the bases loaded, via walks to Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence, and with one man out, Carlos Ruiz hits a two-run single, knocking in Rollins and Victorino, while sending Pence to third base. The Phils then took a 3-0 lead as Ty Wigginton hits a sacrifice fly, scoring Pence. The Phils increased their lead one batter later as, with a man on second, after Ruiz had stolen second base, and with two men out, John Mayberry, Jr. hits an RBI double, giving the Phils a 4-0 lead. The Red Sox would get a run back in the third as, with one man out, Mike Aviles hits a solo home run, his sixth home run of the season, making it a 4-1 Phils’ lead. The Red Sox then cut the Phils’ lead down to 4-2 in the fourth as, with runners on the corners, and with one man out, Daniel Nava hits a sacrifice fly, knocking in Cody Ross, who had earlier doubled, then moved up to third base on Will Middlebrooks’ single. The Phils got a run back in the fifth as, with one man out, Pence hits a solo home run, his tenth home run of the year, giving the Phils a 5-2 lead. The Red Sox would cut the Phils’ lead down to 5-3 in the sixth as, with one man out, Ross hits a solo home run, his eighth home run of the year. The Red Sox then cut the Phils’ lead down to 5-4 as, with one man out, Adrian Gonzalez hits a solo home run, his third home run of the year. The Phils would get that run back in their half of the eighth as, with one man out, Freddy Galvis hits a solo home run, his second home run of the season, giving the Phils a 6-4 lead. That would end up being the final score as Jonathan Papelbon collected his twelfth save of the season as he pitched a scoreless ninth.

Cole Hamels (6-1, 2.48) got the win as he went seven innings, giving up three runs on six hits and a walk, while striking out nine. Chad Qualls recorded his eighth hold of the year as he threw two-thirds of an inning, giving up a run on a hit, as he struck out one. Antonio Bastardo collected his ninth hold of the season as he went a third of an inning, getting out the only man that he would face. Jonathan Papelbon recorded his twelfth save of the year as he pitched a scoreless inning, giving up a hit, as he struck out a batter. Daniel Bard (3-5, 4.85) took the lost as he went five innings, giving up five runs on three hits and five walks, while striking out three. Matt Albers pitched two scoreless innings, giving up two hits and a walk, while striking out two. Franklin Morales pitched an inning, giving up a run on a hit, while striking out two.

The Phils had just six hits in the game, making them all count, with Hunter Pence (Single, Home Run, RBI) and Carlos Ruiz (Singles, 2 RBIs) both leading the ballclub with two hits apiece. John Mayberry, Jr. (Double, RBI) and Freddy Galvis (Home Run, RBI), had the other two Phils’ hits. Ty Wigginton knocked in the other Phil run with a sacrifice fly. The Phils also had six walks (with the first three scoring) and a stolen base (Ruiz (2)) in the game.

The Phils (21-19, T-4th National League East) will continue their Interleague Play series with the Red Sox (18-21, 5th American League East). The game will be played at Citizens Bank Park and is to start at 7:15 pm EDT. The game will be nationally televised on Fox Sport. The Phils will send to the mound Joe Blanton (4-3, 2.96), who is coming off a win against the Astros on May 14, as he threw seven solid innings, giving up a run on six hits and a walk, while striking out seven, in the Phils’ 5-1 win. He will be going for his fourth straight win in his last five starts, while trying to lead the Phils to their seventh straight victory. The BoSox will counter with Jon Lester (2-3, 3.71), who is coming off a complete game win against the Mariners on May 14, as he gave up just a run on eight hits, while he struck out six, in the Red Sox’s 6-1 win. He will be trying to lead the Red Sox to a series split. The Phils will be out to win their seventh straight game, while hoping for another strong start from Blanton.

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